Dept: Mechanical Engineering Scheme: N

Subject: Thermal Engineering 1

Unit – 4 Fuels and Combustion of Fuels & Performance of I.C. Engines

Chapter – 4 (A) Fuels and Combustion of Fuels

1. What is Fuel?
Fuel is a substance which burns with oxygen in air and releases large amount of
heat. The main elements of all fuels are carbon and hydrogen

2. What are the classifications of Fuels?

Fuels are classified into three types
i. Solid fuel example: Wood, Lignite and Coal
ii. Liquid fuel Example: Crude oil, petrol, diesel
iii. Gaseous Fuels Example: Natural gas, Coal gas, LPG, Bio gas

3. What are the requirements of good fuels?

 Fuels should have higher calorific value
 Fuels should have low ignition temperature
 Fuels should burn freely with high efficiency
 Fuels should not produce harmful gases, ash, smoke and soot
 Fuels should be easy to store and handle

4. What is Excess air?

During Combustion a portion of fuel may be unburnt. To avoid this, excess air is
supplied. By supplying the excess air complete combustion is possible. The
amount of excess air supplied generally depends on the type of fuel and furnace
firing conditions. Generally, 25% to 50% Excess air is used

5. Mention the effect of Excess air?

Excess air exerts a cooling effect on combustion process. To avoid this, the
supplied excess air is preheated.
Total air supplied = Minimum air + Excess air
6. Define Calorific value of a fuel
Calorific value of a fuel is defined as the amount of heat released (in kJ) by the
complete combustion of 1 kg of fuel.

7. What is higher or Gross Calorific Value?

Higher Calorific includes the energy obtained by condensing the water vapour
Higher calorific value is also called as Gross Calorific Value
Higher Calorific Value, H.C.V = 9270S +33800C + 144000 [ H2 – O2/8] kJ/kg

8. Write the Dulong’s formula

Higher Calorific Value, H.C.V = 9270S +33800C + 144000 [ H2 – O2/8] kJ/kg

9. What is the purpose of Bomb Calorimeter?

The purpose of Bomb calorimeter is to determine the calorific value of solid and
liquid fuels.

10. What is Lower Calorific Value?

Lower Calorific value does not include the energy obtained by condensing the
water vapour.
Lower calorific value is also called as Net calorific value
L.C.V = H.C.V – (9H2 x x2465) kJ/kg

11. What is Junker’s Gas Calorimeter?

Junkers calorimeter is used to determine the calorific value of gaseous fuels. It
consists of a gas burner in which the gaseous fuel is burnt.

12. What is Orsat apparatus?

Orsat apparatus is used to determine the volume percentages of Carbon di oxide
(CO2), Carbon Mon oxide (CO), and oxygen (O2) in dry exhaust gas. Orsat
apparatus consists of three flasks A, B and C.
Flask A Contains Caustic Soda (NaOH)/ This absorbs Carbon di oxide (CO2)
Flask B contains Pyrogallic acid solution. This absorbs oxygen(O2)
Flask C contains solution of cuprous chloride and hydrochloric acid. This absorbs
Carbon Mon oxide (CO)
Chapter 4(b)– Performance of I.C. Engines

13. Define Indicated mean effective pressure

Indicated mean effective pressure is the average pressure acting on the face of
the piston for one complete cycle.

14. What is Indicated power?

The power developed inside the engine cylinder is called indicated power
Indicated power (I.P) = pmi Lank
Where, Pmi – indicated mean effective pressure kN/m2
L – Stroke length, m
2
A – Area of the Piston, m
n – Number of Power strokes (or) explosions per second
K – Number of Engine Cylinders

15. Define Brake power.

Brake power is defined as the power available at the engine shaft. Brake power
is less than Indicated power
Brake power = 2πNT
Where, N – Engine speed (RPS)
T – Engine Torque – N-m

16. List the devices used to measure Brake power.

The devices used to measure brake power are
1. Prony Brake dynamometer
2. Rope Brake dynamometer

17. Define Friction Power.

The difference between the indicated power and brake power is called Friction
power
Friction power = Indicated poer – Brake power
F.P = I.P – B.P

18. Define Mechanical Efficiency

Mechanical efficiency of an I.C. Engine is defined as the ratio of Brake power to
Indicated power.
Mechanical Efficeincy = (B.P / I.P) X 100
19. What is Specific fuel consumption (SFC)?
Specific fuel consumption is the most important term used in comparison of
engines. Specific Fuel Consumption is the mass of fuel consumed per kW power
developed per hour.

20. Define Indicated thermal efficiency.

Indicated thermal efficiency is defined as the ratio of the actual power to the heat
energy supplied to the engine
Indicated thermal efficiency = Indicated power / Heat supplied

21. Define Brake thermal efficiency

Brake thermal efficiency is defined as the ratio of heat converted into useful work
(BP) to the heat energy supplied to the engine
Brake thermal efficiency = Brake power / Heat energy supplied

22. Define Volumetric Efficiency.

Volumetric Efficiency is defined ratio of the actual volume of the charge admitted
into the engine cylinder during the suction stroke to the stroke volume of the
piston
Volumetric efficiency = (Volume of the charge admitted during suction / Stroke
volume of the piston) x 100

23. What is Morse test?

Morse test is one of the method of finding indicated power of one cylinder in a
multi cylinder I.C. Engines. This test is conducted for determining Indicated
power of a multicylinder I.C Engines

24. What is unaccounted heat loss?

The heat losses which cannot be determined accurately are known as
unaccounted heat losses
Unaccounted heat loss may be determined by subtracting the accounted heat
loss and heat converted into useful work from the heat supplied to the engine.

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